Why Choose Compostables? Qustions being asked.

The first article regarding why someone should choose biodegradable plastic over recycled or traditional plastic is starting to be asked. Treehugger has the article here. COOL 2012 has been doing some work, and you can visit the their site here.

Some reason's why you should choose bio:

A. Feedstock for bioproducts are supporting local supply chains
B. Renewable, and as the market grows so will recycling for bioproduct's
C. It is just cooler to use something that can degrade over something that never will in our life time.
D. $$$ spent on bioproducts stay in the U.S. Dollars spent on traditional plastic, well you get the gist...

Homemade Bioplastic

This is awesome.  I've seen some of these instructions before, but never followed through.  I'll give it a shot, and report back.  

I can feel the pain in the first sentence...

http://www.instructables.com/id/Making-BioPlastics-Environmentally-Friendly-Plast/

Mirel by Telles bioplastic

Mirel, Bioplastics by Telles (Metabolix/ADM), is in a new story (which can be read here) that has been floating around out there (love how some take material from others and post without edits, and don't enter fresh info).

We have read and saw this a few times, is not a press release from Mirel, and does provide a good read for those who are not familiar with the product.

(ok. we used the picture without authority, but no reference was given prior. does that make it right?)

Sun Chips to be packaged in Corn Bags

Environmental Leader has an interesting article/video on Sun Chip™ and the move to biodegradable packaging. Sun Chips, Frito Lay, are using 33% renewable material in every 10 ½ oz size of chips. They plan to go 100% renewable packaging by 2010. They state it will be the first fully compostable chip bag on its kind. Link to Sun Chips pdf here. I think they are using PLA from NatureWorks, but cannot be certain.

Sun Chips can actually say they are dried by the sun too. They use solar power at a plant where they are produced. I can’t say if they are 100% solar power, but still pretty cool.

I’m running down to the nearest Walgreens, and getting’ me some Garden Salsa’s.

Bioplastics Coming Out Party

Bioplastics will be front and center at NPE. They have announced that at least 16 booths and no less than 39 presentations will feature bioplastic. You can read the story here at Plastics Today. Cannot remember if you need a password. You can probably catch the news here at NPE as well.

$17500 Awarded for Bioplastic Cheese Wrap

Governer Doyle announced yesterday that Fair Play Marketing will get $17,500 to utilize bioplastic as a packaging wrap for single use cheese sticks. Unsupported plastic, which is hard to do with bioplastic, is the application.

From Governor Doyle's press release...

The grants are part of the Value Added Dairy Initiative (VADI) Year 5 program funding, which Senator Herb Kohl and Representative Dave Obey helped secure to support Wisconsin’s dairy industry.

"Fairplay Packaging LLC, Monroe - $17,500
This project includes researching and testing biodegradable packaging materials for cheese products. Fairplay Packaging is a new company that buys primarily Wisconsin cheese. It is diversifying its offerings for cutting and packaging and is planning to trial and test market new cheese types and varieties such as probiotic cheese. "

Bioplastic24.co has the new market report

Bioplastic24.com has issued a press release regarding a comprehensive market report aimed at manufactures, processors and users of bioplastic.  They have 100 different polymers produced 40 different manufacturers.  The cost is somewhere around 800 euro's.  To be fair, they are giving customers a EUR 50 credit.  Still to steep for us.  Maybe someone would be willing to share their copy? 

They do pose the question, and devote a chapter to:  "Bioplastics - Economic opportunity or temporary phenomenon."  My guess, bioplastics are here to stay.  

Bioplastic Weekly Briefing

So recent news has popping up around biofoam. A group in Florida is raffling off a biofoam surf board, the Supernal Biofoam . While searching the company we ran into D&H Energy Management, a biofoam insulation company at foammadison.com.

Then there is this biofoam news… CryoLife, Inc was awarded $1.7 million from Federal DOD. This is a biofoam to decrease blood flow for internal and external injuries. Pretty cool stuff in many different applications.